Senators worry proposed roundabout will make traffic worse for fans leaving CTC
Posted Nov 29, 2019 02:16:40 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A plan to build a 714-home subdivision near the Canadian Tire Centre has found an opponent in the Ottawa Senators.
The proposal would see a roundabout built where Palladium Drive curves around the Palladium Auto Park.
The NHL team says 2,400 vehicles exit the area within 45 minutes of an event, and the roundabout would add an extra four minutes of travel time for fans.
Senators owner Eugene Melnyk addressed the city's planning committee by way of a strongly worded letter read to committee by Ottawa Senators Chief Financial Officer Brian Crombie.
He explains that leaving parking lots is the number one complaint of fans leaving the CTC.
Crombie says they came to the four minute conclusion through their own analysis because the city's analysis only accounted for traffic during the morning and afternoon commutes, not the traffic before and after hockey games.
Crombie adds the four minutes also doesn't take into consideration the added pedestrian traffic that would come with new subdivisions nearby.
The criticism of the proposal drew the ire of councillors like Stephen Blais, who questioned why the Senators organization doesn't want to partner with OC Transpo to add a transit surcharge on tickets to get more people to the arena by public transit.
The Ottawa Redblacks and Bluesfest are among those who use that partnership with OC Transpo to keep individuals using transit.
Crombie said if prices go up, they will start to lose more fans, and the team will lose revenue.
“The Ottawa Senators currently enjoy revenue at the bottom of the NHL, so the answer to your question is no,” he replied to Blais.
The motion to allow the roundabout, part of a $49.5-million road extension project was unanimously passed and goes to city council for final approval December 11.
